Runners who lost their homes do their part to help others in Washington-to-Peoria event

Saturday

Aug 2, 2014 at 9:08 PM

Steve Stein of the Journal Star

WASHINGTON — Drew Hillman and Ashley Davidson lost their homes in the Nov. 17 tornado.

In the midst of rebuilding their homes and their families’ lives, they spent time Saturday raising money to help other families.

They were among a record 123 runners who participated in the seventh annual Washington-to-Peoria satellite run of the Memphis-to-Peoria Run for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The Washington-to-Peoria route was the same as in past years, which meant it went through Washington neighborhoods devastated by the EF-4 twister.

Hillman lived at 1204 Hampton Road, along the run route. Davidson lived at 1001 Devonshire Road, a block off the route.

Both were at home with family members when the storm hit. Both are living in a rental home with their spouse and children and hope to be in their rebuilt home this fall.

This was the first time Hillman, 34, participated in the Washington-to-Peoria run. After years of coaxing, he finally was convinced to run by longtime friend Dominic Lang, one of the run coordinators along with Jack Stone.

“I’m not a big runner,” Hillman said.

It’s been a year of firsts, of stepping outside the box, for Hillman, who admits surviving the tornado is the reason.

He took a class at Illinois Central College and finally earned a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Illinois 11 years after he left Champaign. And he and his wife, Sally Hillman, took their first vacation alone.

This was the second Washington-to-Peoria run for Davidson, 38.

“Our family is trying to stay positive and do what we normally do,” she said.

Her husband, Joey Davidson, suffered a cracked vertebra and broken collarbone during the tornado and was hospitalized. Media from across the state interviewed him from his hospital bed.

Now he’s overseeing the construction of his family’s new home, which will include a safe room storm shelter.

The Washington-to-Peoria run raised $182,000 last year for St. Jude, bringing the total to $700,000 since 2008.

Runners and more than 50 volunteers gathered in the south parking lot at Five Points Washington on Saturday morning before hitting the streets. Mayor Gary Manier told them canceling the Washington-to-Peoria run because of the tornado was never an option.

“Our city is rebuilding and getting stronger every day,” he said. “But we’re here today to help children battling cancer and their families.”

Steve Stein can be reached at 686-3114 or stevestein21@yahoo.com. Read his Stein Time blog on pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpartanSteve.